I deal with sever PTSD and BPD and I spent so many years getting my life together. Then last year it all fell apart. This has been such a hard year trying to talk myself into giving it another try. Your videos have inspired me. I’m seeing a doctor next week 💖
I’m in the same boat right now, with psychotic episodes. I will never live on my own and every day is one hour at a time, people really don’t realise how hard it is. I hope for you things get a little more back on track, be kind to yourself, us who experience it know how tough every moment is and are proud of you 🖤
These illnesses tend to be cyclical in our lives (bipolar w/ psychotic features, anxiety and ptsd here) and having setbacks, even severe ones, is part of that. Don’t be hard on yourself, it’s just the ebb and flow we all go through. You’re strong, you’ve made it this far, survived all your worst days. You will survive this too. Much love from a stranger ❤
I live alone. I don't have any friends and my family are all far away. But I don't work, I'm living off of disability and have never heard subsidized rent. I'm very mentally ill and feel neglected. I don't feel I should ever be alone. Maybe being crazy helps me to be alone. And I kind of like it. I like having the time for my hobbies. I tell myself it's temporary and next week I'll see someone about attending a day program. I have an appointment, and I hope I don't get anxious. I admire you for working!
I dunno why people come at you for things like having a 2 bedroom. We need to bring the bottom up, not the top down. If you are able to have a safe enough life with some perks, that's great. You have beauty priv, smart priv, style priv, job priv,.. That's great. In fact, you having a platform helps the rest of us. Big loves and thanks for your videos.
I lived alone for 3 years and I still miss it. I had to move out due to my eating disorder, hygiene struggles and my mental health struggles (still not sure what I have; the dx keeps changing). I still haven't fully made peace with where I am now (residential housing) but I am grateful to not be on the street anymore. I'm glad for you, Kit, and I hope you can keep living solo for a good long while now
I was living alone for 4 years with my illness. Then i moved back with my mom due to an abusive relationship escape. I am hoping to get back to living on my own in a few years. Its a process. Thanks for validating us who don't live alone yet! I am glad you have such great supports!
I have “bipolar affective disorder with, mixed, severe and psychotic behavior” my official diagnosis. Basically bipolar 1 withe added sucker fish of psychotic behavior. I have been abandoned 3 times, my dad 2 times, momma when I was 18..freshly turned. I should have never been left alone! But now, I have deep seated abandonment issues. I cannot be alone, especially with my diagnosis. I can’t afford a therapist in this day and time. Yes I can get free therapy through the county I live in, but I don’t trust that. My hubbys a retired police Lieutenant, hip replacement can do that to one. I don’t really know where I’m going with this..I cannot live alone.
Awww sweetheart I’m so sorry you’re going through this hell. You never should have been left alone. I really hope you get the proper care you need. You deserve it. With the trauma you’ve been through I would be shocked if you DIDN’T have severe abandonment issues! But you won’t have to suffer with that forever. With the right support system and the right therapy/medication your brain can heal from that trauma! Sending lots of peace and good wishes to you tonight so you don’t feel alone❤
While I doubt your country would be willing to cover it, I suggest looking into brain mapping to help deal with your trauma. It's a treatment method originally designed to repair brain damage, and did wonders for my own PTSD/depressive anxiety. It's all extremely complicated stuff, but the gist is that PTSD negatively impacts the layout of your mind in a way that keeps your thoughts focused in it, and the treatment stimulates/strengthens the healthy neural pathways that aren't being used enough. It doesn't cure you, but it puts you on an even playing field that makes recovery so much easier. I did like 8-12 sessions, and it was more effective than the years of therapy I'd been trying beforehand.
I don't know if I will ever be able to live on my own with my schizoaffective disorder. I recently discovered I have mixed type, not just bipolar type. My fear of safety and paranoia is really bad. But your video gives me inspiration. Structure in life is so important. Glad you focused on that.
First of all, high five for a fellow member of the living alone squad! And second, WTF at people complaining about you living in a 2-bedroom apartment (especially when it's cheaper???) It's awesome that you can make that work, and people should be proud of you for it. Third and most importantly, I enjoyed hearing about all the things you do to make living alone with a severe mental illness possible. It's clear that you've put in a lot of effort to find the right balance for stability in your life as much as possible. I really admire your dedication to keeping that up! And I especially appreciate the way you've built a support system where you can rely on lots of different people for different things - that's so important. Thank you for giving us this glimpse into your life! I hope that anyone else who hopes to live alone can learn some things based on how you've achieved it.
I live alone and that took a lot of work. I'm glad you can too Kit. It really makes a positive impact on our lives to be able to live alone with a mental illness. Kudos to all the work you put in to be able to live alone
This gives me hope. I have bipolar type 2, and I am saving money to live alone (I currently live with family). I am a bit scared so your video is very reassuring that things will be okay. Thank you.
I can live alone, but I choose to have roommates or better known as housemates, I have my own room. I like someone being around to talk to or watch tv with. If I lived alone, after some time I would get really bored and a bit lonely. Thank you for your weekly talks, I appreciate them.
I've been wanting to live alone for a good while now, i'm hoping i'll be able to soon. Recently, I finally got to see a psychiatrist, and the medication she put me on seems to be working. I still hear voices and I struggle throughout the day with my belief system since I no longer identify as Christian. But as far as my mental health goes, the medication I was prescribed has been helpful so far, I still hear voices but its more manageable. And the religious delusions don't feel as intense. I'll be seeing a therapist soon too, so hopefully that goes well too. All in all, i'm going to continue this route because so far it's been working out. Again, your videos have helped me through this process of waiting and trying to get through days without being medicated for my mental health. Thanks for being you, you rock! 😁
Do you have ANY IDEA how blessed you are? Of course I know you do I’m only being facetious. You have lived your life in a way (or maybe a past life even) that has bestowed good karma on you. I am so happy for you. I mean, I’m super jealous (I have severe anxiety and I wake up most days suuuuper sick 🤢 and I need to call in a lot and that adds to the anxiety) I wish I had a job that was more flexible. That’s why education is so important. That too helped probably allow you to have a career based on your abilities and attributes. See I’m just the chef at a hospital. Which is great but ya know. Just not quite the same. I am so happy for you. I am empathetic and you just absolutely warmed my heart. Bless you hun.
First video (after YT showed me a short). Really inspiring. There's a couple people I wish I could show this to, but they would not be happy if I did. Great work, keep it up, and good luck.
It's great you have such a big support system of kind friends and family, but a lot of us DON'T have that. When I am feeling bad I call my mom, if she can't pick up I might call one specific friend. If she doesn't pick up I'm on my own. I'd love to have supportive people around me, but when you've lived with severe mental illness for 20+ years people just don't stay. Since my mood is so unstable I often have to cancel plans, or I'm too tired to even make plans. I have only 2 friends, one mother and one sister. One of my friends isn't available on emergency, and my sister has made very clear to me she isn't either. I've literally called her in anxiety attacks and she just hangs up on me. I live on my own, meaning I have all the extra work of taking care of my apartment. No one will do the dishes if I don't. And my executive dysfunction is through the roof. I am often exhausted and having the burden of all daily chores I can't escape makes it even worse. I've never been able to work, so I live on disability from the state. I take my meds like clockwork, eat regularly, exercise every day, have contact with the psychiatry. Still I feel like shit more days than not. I do EVERYTHING I possible can to be as healthy as possible, still I'm constantly struggling. I ask the psychiatry for more help all the time, they don't care due to underfunding. I have bipolar 2, ADD + autistic traits, BPD, social anxiety and a half-recovered eating disorder. Add to that a few physical conditions too. My life has not been worth living for 20 years, still I'm fighting like crazy every single day. It's so pointless and hopeless.
I'm so sorry about your situation. I've had similar experiences with mental illness (not the same diagnoses) for a few years of my life and I know it must take a lot of effort and courage to accomplish what you have to do. I just hope you're going to be okay. I have managed to feel safe after years of on-and-off unlivability and I still backslide but I've reached a baseline of contentment. I hope that the same happens to you. Some people stay and I really hope you find more of them (you already seem to have some thanks to your mother and your friend - they seem really great!). Take care!
@@BlancheNeigefan Thank you for your empathy! I very rarely feel that being alive is threatened by my mental health, I haven't done something like that in many years. It's more the constant depression, meaninglessness and hopelessness eating away at my soul. I'm not going anywhere soon, but I'm suffering. And often I feel like an alien on the wrong planet. Alone and misunderstood. But I'm in therapy again now, and my therapist seems to really get me. Which is RARE! So hopefully he can help me get a little better life quality. You take care too! Hugs!
WOW, you are absolutely amazing!!! I was a psych nurse, one that actually cared about patients and I've dealt with your particular illness every day & it's so wonderful to see you doing so well!!!❤️🩹💜🤗
@@SchizoKitzo Oh bless you, you're so welcome, after what I've seen you're such an inspiration and your support system sounds tremendous, it really makes me happy, knowing what you have, I'm so stoked for you!!! 😁
Thank you for sharing. I know people with mental illnesses and the experience where difficult. They scared me. This open and positive view showed me different side. Keep up the good work. Wish you all the best.
You are so brave and amazing! I can't imagine even trying. I have terrible anxiety PTSD causing tons of issues in my life from a brain tumor. I know a survivor when I see one, please keep posting. Following and suggesting friends do the same! ❤
Thank you for these videos as they help those new to dealing with the new diagnosis I know they’ve helped me over the past few years here while getting adjusted popped up in my 20s
I am diagnosed bp1, ocd and cptsd. However autism and adhd joined the party. I do try focus on both sets and continue with meds although there are plenty of overlaps nothing can be completely "swallowed up" by autism. It is great as I learn about audhd to understand bp1, cptsd and ocd better although I am not always clear where to draw lines. You have such a gift for describing your life and experiences. So helpful. I don't think psychosis has raised its head apart from 2 small hallucination but you have expanded my knowledge in terms of delusions and some that have described what I regarded as ocd. But i am continuing to evaluate. Thank you so much. I am so grateful you are able to offer a clearer view of such hazy topics
Well, I’m happy for her. I happen to be 54. I have the same kind of diagnosis. Right now I don’t seem to be able to hold down a job anywhere, I am surviving on about $960 a month along with getting money for food off of an EBT card. I can’t even find a group home to move into or any semi independent living, and I really can’t afford to have a car. Right now I am very much in danger of becoming completely homeless along with probably losing some of my teeth because Medicaid is terrible to have for dental care. My best friend died last year and I’ve had a lot of friends ditch me because they eventually get tired of hearing from me. And my family is fed up. I’d make another suicide attempt but I know I probably wouldn’t die and I’d just mess myself up even more. Sadly this is more of what reality is really like for most of us.
Hello! ❤ I am so sorry to hear that. Is there some way I or someone else could make you feel better? If you have such thoughts then I suggest calling a helpline. It might be very hard. 😢
@@MiinaMariaKupper Hi, thank you just for responding and caring!!!! I know how depressing and overwhelming I can be, a lot of people just run away. I’ve called help lines like 988, a lot of the time the people on them will politely listen about 10 minutes and then they just want to get off the phone!!! How’s your life going??? Thank you for caring.🙂
Hey there. I'm very sorry for your troubles. Do you think you could rent a room though Craigslist? It might help you to not have to do all the chores yourself and you would have company with housemates. I love you and hope for the best that you find a place that suits your needs.
It’s wonderful to see someone talk about this so honestly. I am still figuring out the best way to live independently with my own disabilities, and many of your points resonated with me. Routine is so important! Thank you for sharing. ❤
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I just found your channel and I think it's amazing. I have Bipolar disorder with the occasional halucination. I'm stable thanks to meds but it can still feel very isolating. You are incredibly brave to be so open and I am grateful for it.
I have now seen exactly two of your videos and admire you for just as many of your qualities: 1. Your strength and your courage to want to manage your life alone despite everything. 2. Your distinct and sophisticated taste for colors, coloring and visual details. Basically Tim Burton on UA-cam. 😁
You are so impressive ! I know and love others that are unwilling to seek the treatments that you follow and contribute to your flourishing; I only hope and pray one day they will be able to follow the excellent pattern you’ve set for yourself to follow, even as you say, you have setbacks. Thank you for your channel !! Blessings to you ! Hugs and unconditional love !
Hi. Thank you. Living with severe mental illness is hard. And lonely. Thank you because I feel a little less lonely right now. I have an amazing support team similar to yours. But you get it in a way that "normally " processing people don't.
I live alone, and I have your illness with other conditions. I tried driving. I tried working. I tried college. Sadly, it didn't work. I do live alone in housing, and my parents are right up the road. But i dump on them. I don't really have a buddy system. I do have Skittles Marie, my beloved cat. Thanks for posting this. I now know what I need to relieve my parents' stress. 😊 -Shirley and Skittles Marie 🐱 🐈
Yeah mental illness sucks! I take medication! Keep your channel up (well unless something drastic comes up)! It's an inspirational channel for a person, like me, who used to have very bad CPTSD with psychotic symptoms! I also have Autism! Good luck! Hope you stabilize and thrive!
I've been living alone with OCD, PTSD and erstwhile psychotic episodes. My Mum has rented me a house to live cheaply. But I think at 43 its time to fly the nest. I need to get away from that childhood mentality (raised by two narcissists) and be free. I will be a drifter! It's been my dream since the beginning!!! I'm going to buy a van with some money I'm getting from the little work I did over the years. I'm starting off by living in my backyard until I get used to it then I'll move to a local caravan park nearby. I will have to say goodbye to my cats for now but hope they can stay with family while I'm travelling. Ridding myself of illness is removing myself from a toxic environment.
Thank you Kit, great that you have good medicines, lots of support, an excellent job and weekly therapy. I live on my own with psychosis trusting in my treatment but envy your therapy which is hard to access here
I've lived alone for several years now. I also have Schitzo affective bipolar type. I relate a lot to this video. I find meds and support network close by helps.
Love you. Always interesting and insightful. Intelligent and open reflections. Helps me to understand my son's condition and what options he has got to get his life back in order. He is in a very bad place right now. Your video's give me some hope because I see for example that it is possible to live alone with this terrible illness. And as a bonus you are very beautiful 😊 (you don't need a lot of makeup, I think, you are also beautiful without).
Hey kit! First off, you rock❤️ would you consider making a video about positive experience with medication?😀 I feel As if antipsychotics are lifesaving when u find the right one, but going through the trial and error is horrifying. Thanks again for your videos. You have a beautiful soul❤️
For me, having a regular schedule helps my symptoms. Also my pets! They need attention and love and food. Knowing that they depend on me helps me stay focused and positive.
I should bring up that EACH person affected by a mental illness WILL have different life circumstances and while those are very specific, there are some basic commonalities which will predict a GOOD OUTCOME or not. Those are having an actual paying job that earns enough to actually HAVE a home to get to AND TWO having at least one family member and/or friend that is available enough to be able to "Pick Up The Pieces" when the inevitable "Situational Dropped Cup" or "Shattered Glass" moments happen in your/their lives. Far too many mental illness sufferers have no home or have far too little close family/friends support which will cause a continual worsening of symptoms and eventual emergency intervention by the POLICING system, the COURT/LEGAL system and the medical system, all of which may cause OTHER issues which further create detrimental and adverse life-outcomes. In terms of a greater acceptance of one's mental illness by others, numerous factors come into play which include basic/inherent socialization skills (i.e. how sociable are you normally?), overall age and current life stage (i.e. are you a young 5 to 35 or an older 40+ person?) and some basic personal sanitation/hygiene states caused by adherence or lack-of-adherence to physical self-care. All these factors will play out in the current and future outcomes of one's symptom presentation AND the reaction of the body public to the same! In this case, the rather VERY ATTRACTIVE physicality of this UA-camr WILL cause others in the greater community to be much more helpful in many situations both during and outside of a positive or negative mental episode. The "Pretty Advantage" does play a significant role in this specific situation so that is a BIG PLUS for her! I am also quite sure future PARTNERS will be much more accepting of her condition(s) due to her rather good looks! For those who have a much harsher environment that is their daily living situation, the ONLY WAY to fix those issues is to ask the RIGHT PERSONS and the RIGHT AGENCIES over and over and over again for initial AND extra help, be it short-term or for the long-term. The old adage of "The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease!" does come into play here! Self-preservation does sometimes require external treatment options and that means one may have to harshly and purposefully rise-up off the cardboard box in order get out of your/their on-street living spaces (i.e. if you are homeless!) and KEEP going to the places and the people WHO DO HAVE a willingness and/or a mandate to help you/them! My best wishes to ANYONE and EVERYONE who has to deal with mental illnesses of all sorts. I truly wish and hope that you are able to get actual and proper treatment that will be able to stabilize and enable a better future for yourself. V
Great job setting up your life in a way that works for you and sticking to your treatment plan! Question (apologies if this has been asked and answered): Is a long term relationship on your radar or perhaps a distant goal? Or is your ideal life defined as living alone?
I’m glad you don’t treat medication as an evil thing. Too many people do. Especially people from the Boomer generation. They act like it’s offensive to think that there’s “something wrong with them”. It’s hard for many people to not only admit that they need help but also trust the science and the doctors, especially with our messed up healthcare system and the stereotypes about our mental health institutions. Yours is a rare success story.
Hi SK, just wondering if you'd be interested in explaining the differences and overlaps of SZD and DID disorder? I'll check to see if you've already mentioned it.
Since I don’t have experience with DID I don’t feel comfortable truly talking about it. However… if I could find a DID creator open to doing a collab then things might work out. I’m keeping my peepers peeled!
"Pursuit" by Stephen Dobyns ""Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else. In such a way do the days pass- a blend of stock car racing and the never ending building of a gothic cathedral. Through the windows of my speeding car, I see all that I love falling away: books unread, jokes untold, landscapes unvisited. And why? What treasure do I expect in my future? Rather it is the confusion of childhood loping behind me, the chaos in the mind, the failure chipping away at each success. Glancing over my shoulder I see its shape and so move forward, as someone in the woods at night might hear the sound of approaching feet and stop to listen; then, instead of silence he hears some creature trying to be silent. What else can he do but run? Rushing blindly down the path, stumbling, struck in the face by sticks; the other ever closer, yet not really hurrying or out of breath, teasing its kill.""
I have schizoaffective and OCD too. I live alone as well. I have a hard time cleaning up after myself many times or doing laundry. but I've lived alone a couple years now. coincidentally I live in NYC now, and I am screwed if I don't live alone because im here without family support aka they don't live in this state. I had a small family to begin with. I am 35 and my condition is now getting more stable with meds, but I have down days and I still probably need to adjust my meds. I have a lot of positives about me but the hardest thing is I'm 35 and I barely have a work history, and I didn't finish college. I would love to work in a lab like you kitzo. I do need routine and structure too.
Heyy im also schizoaffective bipolar. Living by myself with my two cats I'm 30 male in Australia. Work in kitchens as a chef. My episodes are down to maybe one or two a year and i have a lot of experience now with pulling myself back to reality when i loose touch a little too much an awesome doc i see at least once a month. Medications are mt life line and a creative outlet im kind of isolated when it comea to support system but if some sort if im not writing im drawing and have a lot of professional support if i ignore ny dov they'll come do a home check ...
I would love to see a discussion of how you built your support network. I see people with much "milder" (IDK what other weird to use) conditions struggle to succeed because they have nobody they can lean on.
I would like to live alone but I can't afford it on a low income. I used to work as a lab technician too. I can no longer work fulltime let alone do that. My disabilities affect me in that way (bipolar & PTSD). I share a house with a family. In a way, perhaps it would not be good for me, as I tend to self-isolate. So have snippets of social contact, even though I avoid people mostly. Glad you are able to maintain such stability & also earn a fulltime income.
I’ve taken so many medications in the past and even now I’m on so many pills I call it a cocktail. I’m still extremely OCD, have anxiety episodes, depression, mania,hear noises and overall just crazy. I was diagnosed when I was 20. I’m 34 now, I’m never going to get better. It seems like the older I get the worse I’m getting. I hate my life and just being here and being me.
I have autism and I live on my own but have coaches that come 3 times a week to talk and help with stuff and go with me to doctors appointments or other important appointments.
It's all very commendable. I just want you to know that you that no one has to apologize for what they work hard for in life. There is no need to apologize to anyone because you live in a 2 bedroom apartment anymore than a person needs to apologize that they live in a 12 room mansion. I'm also perplexed why you think you are a burden to your friends. Real friendships,with either the same sex or the opposite or a romantic connection, is always a 2 way street. Meaning both people should be both giving and receiving the joys of a friendship. If you feel like you are a burden,ask yourself why?Do you think it's a valid feeling?
@@SchizoKitzo oh I see. Do you still hear voices or are they gone? I still hear voices since 2022 hopefully with this new medication they leave for good
I don’t live alone yet, but will in the coming years, I’m 31 and I’ve never lived alone. I look forward to living alone.
Good luck! It’s so awesome when you can make it work!
Thanks; yes.
You have very good energy.
Good luck 👍
@@ShadyPlatinum777 thanks a lot.
I deal with sever PTSD and BPD and I spent so many years getting my life together. Then last year it all fell apart. This has been such a hard year trying to talk myself into giving it another try. Your videos have inspired me. I’m seeing a doctor next week 💖
I’m in the same boat right now, with psychotic episodes. I will never live on my own and every day is one hour at a time, people really don’t realise how hard it is. I hope for you things get a little more back on track, be kind to yourself, us who experience it know how tough every moment is and are proud of you 🖤
These illnesses tend to be cyclical in our lives (bipolar w/ psychotic features, anxiety and ptsd here) and having setbacks, even severe ones, is part of that. Don’t be hard on yourself, it’s just the ebb and flow we all go through. You’re strong, you’ve made it this far, survived all your worst days. You will survive this too. Much love from a stranger ❤
I live alone. I don't have any friends and my family are all far away. But I don't work, I'm living off of disability and have never heard subsidized rent. I'm very mentally ill and feel neglected. I don't feel I should ever be alone. Maybe being crazy helps me to be alone. And I kind of like it. I like having the time for my hobbies. I tell myself it's temporary and next week I'll see someone about attending a day program. I have an appointment, and I hope I don't get anxious. I admire you for working!
Hang in there! There are many others that struggle with this, so you are not alone❤❤
I dunno why people come at you for things like having a 2 bedroom. We need to bring the bottom up, not the top down. If you are able to have a safe enough life with some perks, that's great.
You have beauty priv, smart priv, style priv, job priv,.. That's great. In fact, you having a platform helps the rest of us.
Big loves and thanks for your videos.
I lived alone for 3 years and I still miss it. I had to move out due to my eating disorder, hygiene struggles and my mental health struggles (still not sure what I have; the dx keeps changing). I still haven't fully made peace with where I am now (residential housing) but I am grateful to not be on the street anymore.
I'm glad for you, Kit, and I hope you can keep living solo for a good long while now
I was living alone for 4 years with my illness. Then i moved back with my mom due to an abusive relationship escape. I am hoping to get back to living on my own in a few years. Its a process. Thanks for validating us who don't live alone yet! I am glad you have such great supports!
I have “bipolar affective disorder with, mixed, severe and psychotic behavior” my official diagnosis. Basically bipolar 1 withe added sucker fish of psychotic behavior. I have been abandoned 3 times, my dad 2 times, momma when I was 18..freshly turned. I should have never been left alone! But now, I have deep seated abandonment issues. I cannot be alone, especially with my diagnosis. I can’t afford a therapist in this day and time. Yes I can get free therapy through the county I live in, but I don’t trust that. My hubbys a retired police Lieutenant, hip replacement can do that to one. I don’t really know where I’m going with this..I cannot live alone.
Awww sweetheart I’m so sorry you’re going through this hell. You never should have been left alone. I really hope you get the proper care you need. You deserve it. With the trauma you’ve been through I would be shocked if you DIDN’T have severe abandonment issues! But you won’t have to suffer with that forever. With the right support system and the right therapy/medication your brain can heal from that trauma! Sending lots of peace and good wishes to you tonight so you don’t feel alone❤
@@ariellesarinafirestone7823 ❤️ ty
@@JamieTheSassenachLass 🩷🩷 also love your username I was a Gaelic Learner myself once 💖
While I doubt your country would be willing to cover it, I suggest looking into brain mapping to help deal with your trauma. It's a treatment method originally designed to repair brain damage, and did wonders for my own PTSD/depressive anxiety.
It's all extremely complicated stuff, but the gist is that PTSD negatively impacts the layout of your mind in a way that keeps your thoughts focused in it, and the treatment stimulates/strengthens the healthy neural pathways that aren't being used enough. It doesn't cure you, but it puts you on an even playing field that makes recovery so much easier.
I did like 8-12 sessions, and it was more effective than the years of therapy I'd been trying beforehand.
@@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth good stuff! I’m happy you found your help you needed! 😌
I don't know if I will ever be able to live on my own with my schizoaffective disorder. I recently discovered I have mixed type, not just bipolar type. My fear of safety and paranoia is really bad. But your video gives me inspiration. Structure in life is so important. Glad you focused on that.
it's nice to see I'm not the only one who finds hard to live alone, and had to go through a lot of failed attempts
makes me feel more... normal.
First of all, high five for a fellow member of the living alone squad! And second, WTF at people complaining about you living in a 2-bedroom apartment (especially when it's cheaper???) It's awesome that you can make that work, and people should be proud of you for it.
Third and most importantly, I enjoyed hearing about all the things you do to make living alone with a severe mental illness possible. It's clear that you've put in a lot of effort to find the right balance for stability in your life as much as possible. I really admire your dedication to keeping that up! And I especially appreciate the way you've built a support system where you can rely on lots of different people for different things - that's so important.
Thank you for giving us this glimpse into your life! I hope that anyone else who hopes to live alone can learn some things based on how you've achieved it.
Thank you GC! I love living alone and hope to do it for a very long time. Glad I’m not the only one so yassss living alone club. Thanks again!
I live alone and that took a lot of work. I'm glad you can too Kit. It really makes a positive impact on our lives to be able to live alone with a mental illness. Kudos to all the work you put in to be able to live alone
This gives me hope. I have bipolar type 2, and I am saving money to live alone (I currently live with family). I am a bit scared so your video is very reassuring that things will be okay. Thank you.
Best of luck! 💪
I can live alone, but I choose to have roommates or better known as housemates, I have my own room. I like someone being around to talk to or watch tv with. If I lived alone, after some time I would get really bored and a bit lonely. Thank you for your weekly talks, I appreciate them.
I've been wanting to live alone for a good while now, i'm hoping i'll be able to soon. Recently, I finally got to see a psychiatrist, and the medication she put me on seems to be working. I still hear voices and I struggle throughout the day with my belief system since I no longer identify as Christian. But as far as my mental health goes, the medication I was prescribed has been helpful so far, I still hear voices but its more manageable. And the religious delusions don't feel as intense. I'll be seeing a therapist soon too, so hopefully that goes well too. All in all, i'm going to continue this route because so far it's been working out.
Again, your videos have helped me through this process of waiting and trying to get through days without being medicated for my mental health. Thanks for being you, you rock! 😁
Do you have ANY IDEA how blessed you are? Of course I know you do I’m only being facetious. You have lived your life in a way (or maybe a past life even) that has bestowed good karma on you. I am so happy for you. I mean, I’m super jealous (I have severe anxiety and I wake up most days suuuuper sick 🤢 and I need to call in a lot and that adds to the anxiety) I wish I had a job that was more flexible. That’s why education is so important. That too helped probably allow you to have a career based on your abilities and attributes. See I’m just the chef at a hospital. Which is great but ya know. Just not quite the same. I am so happy for you. I am empathetic and you just absolutely warmed my heart. Bless you hun.
It's encouraging to hear success stories like this 😊
It's good to hear a positive perspective from someone with a bad mental illness. You've got a strong personality and you're doing great.
^_^ thanks!
You are awesome, kit. You know how to make it work living alone with a mental illness. Wishing you the best, you are an amazing, strong woman
Hi! :) I live alone in an apartment but it's also supportive housing, which means I can get help from staff when necessary.
Woooo that’s awesome that you have that support when you need it!
First video (after YT showed me a short).
Really inspiring. There's a couple people I wish I could show this to, but they would not be happy if I did.
Great work, keep it up, and good luck.
So happy I discovered you. It’s so insightful. Ty for sharing your story.
It's great you have such a big support system of kind friends and family, but a lot of us DON'T have that.
When I am feeling bad I call my mom, if she can't pick up I might call one specific friend. If she doesn't pick up I'm on my own. I'd love to have supportive people around me, but when you've lived with severe mental illness for 20+ years people just don't stay. Since my mood is so unstable I often have to cancel plans, or I'm too tired to even make plans. I have only 2 friends, one mother and one sister. One of my friends isn't available on emergency, and my sister has made very clear to me she isn't either. I've literally called her in anxiety attacks and she just hangs up on me.
I live on my own, meaning I have all the extra work of taking care of my apartment. No one will do the dishes if I don't. And my executive dysfunction is through the roof. I am often exhausted and having the burden of all daily chores I can't escape makes it even worse. I've never been able to work, so I live on disability from the state.
I take my meds like clockwork, eat regularly, exercise every day, have contact with the psychiatry. Still I feel like shit more days than not. I do EVERYTHING I possible can to be as healthy as possible, still I'm constantly struggling. I ask the psychiatry for more help all the time, they don't care due to underfunding.
I have bipolar 2, ADD + autistic traits, BPD, social anxiety and a half-recovered eating disorder. Add to that a few physical conditions too. My life has not been worth living for 20 years, still I'm fighting like crazy every single day. It's so pointless and hopeless.
I'm so sorry about your situation. I've had similar experiences with mental illness (not the same diagnoses) for a few years of my life and I know it must take a lot of effort and courage to accomplish what you have to do. I just hope you're going to be okay. I have managed to feel safe after years of on-and-off unlivability and I still backslide but I've reached a baseline of contentment. I hope that the same happens to you. Some people stay and I really hope you find more of them (you already seem to have some thanks to your mother and your friend - they seem really great!). Take care!
@@BlancheNeigefan Thank you for your empathy! I very rarely feel that being alive is threatened by my mental health, I haven't done something like that in many years. It's more the constant depression, meaninglessness and hopelessness eating away at my soul. I'm not going anywhere soon, but I'm suffering. And often I feel like an alien on the wrong planet. Alone and misunderstood.
But I'm in therapy again now, and my therapist seems to really get me. Which is RARE! So hopefully he can help me get a little better life quality.
You take care too! Hugs!
WOW, you are absolutely amazing!!! I was a psych nurse, one that actually cared about patients and I've dealt with your particular illness every day & it's so wonderful to see you doing so well!!!❤️🩹💜🤗
Thanks so much! And thanks for doing what you do!
@@SchizoKitzo Oh bless you, you're so welcome, after what I've seen you're such an inspiration and your support system sounds tremendous, it really makes me happy, knowing what you have, I'm so stoked for you!!! 😁
You have a lovely, lovely soul.
Thank you for sharing. You've educated and inspired soooo many people - myself especially.
Semper Fi
Thank you for sharing. I know people with mental illnesses and the experience where difficult. They scared me.
This open and positive view showed me different side.
Keep up the good work. Wish you all the best.
You are so brave and amazing! I can't imagine even trying. I have terrible anxiety PTSD causing tons of issues in my life from a brain tumor. I know a survivor when I see one, please keep posting. Following and suggesting friends do the same! ❤
Thank you for these videos as they help those new to dealing with the new diagnosis I know they’ve helped me over the past few years here while getting adjusted popped up in my 20s
Thanks for being so brave and sharing this, it will help people to hear it,god bless you for your courage ❤jesus loves you.
Awesome. Well done, it's no easy feat, even with all the blessings.
You seems to be such a incredible person. Really love the way you talk a about yourself and the guinea pigs. And you are also beautiful ❤️
I am diagnosed bp1, ocd and cptsd. However autism and adhd joined the party. I do try focus on both sets and continue with meds although there are plenty of overlaps nothing can be completely "swallowed up" by autism. It is great as I learn about audhd to understand bp1, cptsd and ocd better although I am not always clear where to draw lines.
You have such a gift for describing your life and experiences. So helpful. I don't think psychosis has raised its head apart from 2 small hallucination but you have expanded my knowledge in terms of delusions and some that have described what I regarded as ocd. But i am continuing to evaluate.
Thank you so much. I am so grateful you are able to offer a clearer view of such hazy topics
I live alone as well. Thank you as always for the great video, Kit!
You are so lucky to have a great dad! 😊
Thank you for being an inspiration and giving us hope, dude. Definitely took some notes. Keep killin' it and stay awesomazing! 🤘
Thank you! Will do!
Well, I’m happy for her. I happen to be 54. I have the same kind of diagnosis. Right now I don’t seem to be able to hold down a job anywhere, I am surviving on about $960 a month along with getting money for food off of an EBT card. I can’t even find a group home to move into or any semi independent living, and I really can’t afford to have a car. Right now I am very much in danger of becoming completely homeless along with probably losing some of my teeth because Medicaid is terrible to have for dental care. My best friend died last year and I’ve had a lot of friends ditch me because they eventually get tired of hearing from me. And my family is fed up. I’d make another suicide attempt but I know I probably wouldn’t die and I’d just mess myself up even more. Sadly this is more of what reality is really like for most of us.
Hello! ❤ I am so sorry to hear that. Is there some way I or someone else could make you feel better? If you have such thoughts then I suggest calling a helpline. It might be very hard. 😢
@@MiinaMariaKupper Hi, thank you just for responding and caring!!!! I know how depressing and overwhelming I can be, a lot of people just run away. I’ve called help lines like 988, a lot of the time the people on them will politely listen about 10 minutes and then they just want to get off the phone!!! How’s your life going??? Thank you for caring.🙂
I call the helplines too much. They are tired of me.
@@lynnmarieanderson1744 I can imagine that I for an example wouldn't ever get tired of you calling. :)
Hey there. I'm very sorry for your troubles. Do you think you could rent a room though Craigslist? It might help you to not have to do all the chores yourself and you would have company with housemates. I love you and hope for the best that you find a place that suits your needs.
It’s wonderful to see someone talk about this so honestly. I am still figuring out the best way to live independently with my own disabilities, and many of your points resonated with me. Routine is so important! Thank you for sharing. ❤
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I just found your channel and I think it's amazing. I have Bipolar disorder with the occasional halucination. I'm stable thanks to meds but it can still feel very isolating. You are incredibly brave to be so open and I am grateful for it.
I have now seen exactly two of your videos and admire you for just as many of your qualities:
1. Your strength and your courage to want to manage your life alone despite everything.
2. Your distinct and sophisticated taste for colors, coloring and visual details.
Basically Tim Burton on UA-cam. 😁
Hi Kit! Awesome video! I appreciate your insights and perspective. Hope you have an awesome weekend!
Thanks! You too!
You are so impressive ! I know and love others that are unwilling to seek the treatments that you follow and contribute to your flourishing; I only hope and pray one day they will be able to follow the excellent pattern you’ve set for yourself to follow, even as you say, you have setbacks. Thank you for your channel !! Blessings to you ! Hugs and unconditional love !
Hi.
Thank you.
Living with severe mental illness is hard. And lonely.
Thank you because I feel a little less lonely right now.
I have an amazing support team similar to yours. But you get it in a way that "normally " processing people don't.
You are so loved. Your determination to strive reveals itself every day. ❤️🐾
THANKS MOM
Thank you for this video and being so open.
I live alone, and I have your illness with other conditions. I tried driving. I tried working. I tried college. Sadly, it didn't work. I do live alone in housing, and my parents are right up the road. But i dump on them. I don't really have a buddy system. I do have Skittles Marie, my beloved cat. Thanks for posting this. I now know what I need to relieve my parents' stress. 😊
-Shirley and Skittles Marie 🐱 🐈
Your story is always inspiring! Keep going strong love! 👍🔥❤
I’m so happy for your support system! Your dad rocks!! And I’m happy for you because you have a job you like^^
It’s a really fun life and I don’t take it for granted at all!
Yeah mental illness sucks! I take medication! Keep your channel up (well unless something drastic comes up)! It's an inspirational channel for a person, like me, who used to have very bad CPTSD with psychotic symptoms! I also have Autism! Good luck! Hope you stabilize and thrive!
You are a wonderful person ❤I wish you all the best in future 🎉
Thank you! You too!
I've been living alone with OCD, PTSD and erstwhile psychotic episodes. My Mum has rented me a house to live cheaply. But I think at 43 its time to fly the nest. I need to get away from that childhood mentality (raised by two narcissists) and be free. I will be a drifter! It's been my dream since the beginning!!! I'm going to buy a van with some money I'm getting from the little work I did over the years. I'm starting off by living in my backyard until I get used to it then I'll move to a local caravan park nearby. I will have to say goodbye to my cats for now but hope they can stay with family while I'm travelling. Ridding myself of illness is removing myself from a toxic environment.
Thank you Kit, great that you have good medicines, lots of support, an excellent job and weekly therapy. I live on my own with psychosis trusting in my treatment but envy your therapy which is hard to access here
I've lived alone for several years now. I also have Schitzo affective bipolar type. I relate a lot to this video. I find meds and support network close by helps.
Love you. Always interesting and insightful. Intelligent and open reflections. Helps me to understand my son's condition and what options he has got to get his life back in order. He is in a very bad place right now. Your video's give me some hope because I see for example that it is possible to live alone with this terrible illness.
And as a bonus you are very beautiful 😊 (you don't need a lot of makeup, I think, you are also beautiful without).
You are in a great condition, be strong forever 👍
Good job. Stay strong.
Hey kit! First off, you rock❤️ would you consider making a video about positive experience with medication?😀 I feel
As if antipsychotics are lifesaving when u find the right one, but going through the trial and error is horrifying. Thanks again for your videos. You have a beautiful soul❤️
For me, having a regular schedule helps my symptoms.
Also my pets! They need attention and love and food. Knowing that they depend on me helps me stay focused and positive.
I should bring up that EACH person affected by a mental illness WILL have different life circumstances and while those are very specific, there are some basic commonalities which will predict a GOOD OUTCOME or not. Those are having an actual paying job that earns enough to actually HAVE a home to get to AND TWO having at least one family member and/or friend that is available enough to be able to "Pick Up The Pieces" when the inevitable "Situational Dropped Cup" or "Shattered Glass" moments happen in your/their lives.
Far too many mental illness sufferers have no home or have far too little close family/friends support which will cause a continual worsening of symptoms and eventual emergency intervention by the POLICING system, the COURT/LEGAL system and the medical system, all of which may cause OTHER issues which further create detrimental and adverse life-outcomes.
In terms of a greater acceptance of one's mental illness by others, numerous factors come into play which include basic/inherent socialization skills (i.e. how sociable are you normally?), overall age and current life stage (i.e. are you a young 5 to 35 or an older 40+ person?) and some basic personal sanitation/hygiene states caused by adherence or lack-of-adherence to physical self-care. All these factors will play out in the current and future outcomes of one's symptom presentation AND the reaction of the body public to the same!
In this case, the rather VERY ATTRACTIVE physicality of this UA-camr WILL cause others in the greater community to be much more helpful in many situations both during and outside of a positive or negative mental episode. The "Pretty Advantage" does play a significant role in this specific situation so that is a BIG PLUS for her! I am also quite sure future PARTNERS will be much more accepting of her condition(s) due to her rather good looks!
For those who have a much harsher environment that is their daily living situation, the ONLY WAY to fix those issues is to ask the RIGHT PERSONS and the RIGHT AGENCIES over and over and over again for initial AND extra help, be it short-term or for the long-term. The old adage of "The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease!" does come into play here! Self-preservation does sometimes require external treatment options and that means one may have to harshly and purposefully rise-up off the cardboard box in order get out of your/their on-street living spaces (i.e. if you are homeless!) and KEEP going to the places and the people WHO DO HAVE a willingness and/or a mandate to help you/them!
My best wishes to ANYONE and EVERYONE who has to deal with mental illnesses of all sorts. I truly wish and hope that you are able to get actual and proper treatment that will be able to stabilize and enable a better future for yourself.
V
Super messed up world, absolutely nailed it.
I try 😎
Great job setting up your life in a way that works for you and sticking to your treatment plan!
Question (apologies if this has been asked and answered): Is a long term relationship on your radar or perhaps a distant goal? Or is your ideal life defined as living alone?
wow, I have the same issue. Writing music really helps me, as well as my drs
Great video!😁
I’m so happy for you have so many friends and family ❤
They really make a difference!
Thanks kit ❤
You are awesome! very inspiring🤘
You’re an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your insights with us.
You are so welcome
I’m glad you don’t treat medication as an evil thing. Too many people do. Especially people from the Boomer generation. They act like it’s offensive to think that there’s “something wrong with them”. It’s hard for many people to not only admit that they need help but also trust the science and the doctors, especially with our messed up healthcare system and the stereotypes about our mental health institutions.
Yours is a rare success story.
Hi SK, just wondering if you'd be interested in explaining the differences and overlaps of SZD and DID disorder? I'll check to see if you've already mentioned it.
Since I don’t have experience with DID I don’t feel comfortable truly talking about it. However… if I could find a DID creator open to doing a collab then things might work out. I’m keeping my peepers peeled!
"Pursuit" by Stephen Dobyns
""Each thing I do I rush through so I can do
something else. In such a way do the days pass-
a blend of stock car racing and the never
ending building of a gothic cathedral.
Through the windows of my speeding car, I see
all that I love falling away: books unread,
jokes untold, landscapes unvisited. And why?
What treasure do I expect in my future?
Rather it is the confusion of childhood
loping behind me, the chaos in the mind,
the failure chipping away at each success.
Glancing over my shoulder I see its shape
and so move forward, as someone in the woods
at night might hear the sound of approaching feet
and stop to listen; then, instead of silence
he hears some creature trying to be silent.
What else can he do but run? Rushing blindly
down the path, stumbling, struck in the face by sticks;
the other ever closer, yet not really
hurrying or out of breath, teasing its kill.""
I have schizoaffective and OCD too. I live alone as well. I have a hard time cleaning up after myself many times or doing laundry. but I've lived alone a couple years now.
coincidentally I live in NYC now, and I am screwed if I don't live alone because im here without family support aka they don't live in this state. I had a small family to begin with.
I am 35 and my condition is now getting more stable with meds, but I have down days and I still probably need to adjust my meds. I have a lot of positives about me but the hardest thing is I'm 35 and I barely have a work history, and I didn't finish college.
I would love to work in a lab like you kitzo. I do need routine and structure too.
You’re heard! I hope meds get better and your working situation too. Hang in there, you got this! 💪
Heyy im also schizoaffective bipolar. Living by myself with my two cats I'm 30 male in Australia. Work in kitchens as a chef. My episodes are down to maybe one or two a year and i have a lot of experience now with pulling myself back to reality when i loose touch a little too much an awesome doc i see at least once a month. Medications are mt life line and a creative outlet im kind of isolated when it comea to support system but if some sort if im not writing im drawing and have a lot of professional support if i ignore ny dov they'll come do a home check ...
You are smart and beautiful…Nothing should stand in your way to a full happy life!
can u make a video of the ketogenic diet and metabolic therapies?
I would love to see a discussion of how you built your support network. I see people with much "milder" (IDK what other weird to use) conditions struggle to succeed because they have nobody they can lean on.
Trust me it’s on the list! Thanks for the suggestion 👍
I would like to live alone but I can't afford it on a low income. I used to work as a lab technician too. I can no longer work fulltime let alone do that. My disabilities affect me in that way (bipolar & PTSD).
I share a house with a family.
In a way, perhaps it would not be good for me, as I tend to self-isolate. So have snippets of social contact, even though I avoid people mostly.
Glad you are able to maintain such stability & also earn a fulltime income.
I’ve taken so many medications in the past and even now I’m on so many pills I call it a cocktail. I’m still extremely OCD, have anxiety episodes, depression, mania,hear noises and overall just crazy. I was diagnosed when I was 20. I’m 34 now, I’m never going to get better. It seems like the older I get the worse I’m getting. I hate my life and just being here and being me.
Best of luck ❤
My schizoaffective disorder, but my family doesn't support me in the idea of living alone right now
~comes at you... with a platonic hug~
Great video!
I have autism and I live on my own but have coaches that come 3 times a week to talk and help with stuff and go with me to doctors appointments or other important appointments.
That’s awesome that you have that!
Australia loves you❤❤❤
It seems like DBT can help everyone, actually. Been living alone since the 1990s myself.
Well done 👍
Thank you 👍
It's all very commendable. I just want you to know that you that no one has to apologize for what they work hard for in life. There is no need to apologize to anyone because you live in a 2 bedroom apartment anymore than a person needs to apologize that they live in a 12 room mansion. I'm also perplexed why you think you are a burden to your friends. Real friendships,with either the same sex or the opposite or a romantic connection, is always a 2 way street. Meaning both people should be both giving and receiving the joys of a friendship. If you feel like you are a burden,ask yourself why?Do you think it's a valid feeling?
I don’t think I’m a burden at all that’s why I said quote and quote, but it’s possible that got lost in translation.
Where did you take a DBT course? Is there anything available online that you could recommend?
I'm autistic and i will do everything in my power to live alone
I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar as well!
I had a friend with schizoaffective. We are no longer friends. He was a difficult person.
Have you taken Clozapine? I have to take it and was wondering if you’ve taken it and what side effects you had🤔
Nah I don’t qualify actually! So as of now, nope.
@@SchizoKitzo oh I see. Do you still hear voices or are they gone? I still hear voices since 2022 hopefully with this new medication they leave for good
Thanks.😉🌞🌺
Also living alone helps cause with housemates I can become paranoid they are out to get me
Making sense
Shortly after I make comments on UA-cam videos. The algorithm reminds me of my bipolar. Thanks a lot UA-cam. My opinions aren’t always manic.
"my mom, who is also in my life" aaaaahahaha hard relate 😂😂😂
ME TOO!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
just curious, what's your dating life like?
Do you experience negative symptoms? I'm not functional because of them
How is it going with the new therapist?
Going well! Will post a vid soon ^_^
I didn’t know you had piggies! They really are awesome for mental health, health insurance should probably pay for the pellets and hay 😂
I'm not able to live alone anymore.
Still crushing on ya😍😍🤭🤭